Dana Goldberg (bottom right) presented at World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in June 2016.
Dana Goldberg looks at the problem of financial abuse of seniors and sees an epidemic.
Older adults in the US have a steady source of income whether they are wealthy or not, making them a target for scammers. Additionally, changes in older adults’ cognition can make financial management more difficult. The result is that every year billions of dollars are lost in the US to fraud and exploitation.
“This is an epidemic and we need to treat it that way,” Goldberg said.
That’s where the SeniorLAW Center comes in. The center, where Goldberg is director of victim services, works to protect the legal rights of the elderly.
The SeniorLAW Center created new initiatives to service two particularly vulnerable senior populations: those with limited English proficiency and veterans, especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
When these older adults fall victim to financial abuse, they encounter steep social and logistical hurdles to obtaining legal support. Mental health issues and the associated stigmas can discourage veterans from seeking assistance. Meanwhile, cultural and linguistic barriers can lead to a lack of knowledge, or even discomfort, regarding the legal system. The SeniorLAW Center aims to address the specific needs of these communities by providing a range of services.
“We know that elders in all five counties that where we’re working are experiencing some type of abuse. Whether it’s veterans who are exploited financially or people who are actually experiencing physical abuse,” said Goldberg.
Project S.A.F.E (stop abuse and financial exploitation) will be providing free legal representation and counsel to victims of abuse and exploitation in southeastern Pennsylvania. This is the first time the group has been able to offer legal representation outside of Philadelphia County.
Goldberg also represents the center as a member of the Financial Exploitation Prevention Task Force. This task force — a team of lawyers, social workers, physicians, and representatives from financial institutions, the Philadelphia police department, and the district attorney’s office —holds public events like World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
“The greatest thing about the task force is that it bring lots of players in the Philadelphia County together so that we can work as a team to 1) educate the community 2) address cases directly and 3) make sure we are on top of the most up to date resources that are available so that we are not just isolated,” Goldberg said.
By including financial institutions and medical professionals on the task force, the collective efforts of the group accomplish more than when each group is working individually, she said. Tackling an issue as complex as elder exploitation and abuse requires collaboration.
For more information about the SeniorLAW Center, contact Dana Goldberg at dgoldberg@seniorlawcenter.org. For legal representation, dial the SeniorLAW Center local hotline: (215) 988-1242. For consultation on any legal matter dial the toll-free number: (877) 727-7529 Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – noon.
— by David Ney